← 4 Aug Wednesday 5 August 2020 · to 23:59 UTC 6 Aug →
What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
31,133 stories about harm· Trends· Every past day

We measure how the world's news covered people being harmed — and the help and hope within it.

How to read these numbers →

Violence in Beirut, illness in Romania and a disaster in Pikelot drew the news. Lebanon's coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's. Language across the world's news ran harsher than usual.

Part of lifeHealth 57 in 100 of the stories about harm · less than usual Country that rose mostLebanon 81 in 100 of its 2,814 stories, usually 45
RegionMiddle East & North Africa 63 in 100 of its stories, usually 42
Tone of the words Harsher than usual across the world's stories about harm

What the world's news was about today

how these are picked →
Conflict & violence

Lebanon

2,292 of its 2,814 stories (81%) were about people being harmed, usually 45%. Beirut accounted for 2,257 of Lebanon's 2,292 stories about harm, carried by 1,982 outlets. Reports of people displaced ran at about 5 times the usual rate (48 stories). Flooding was named in 93 of its stories about harm, about 5 times usual. Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.

Lebanon over 30 days → its stories → Beirut stories →
6 more places the news pointed at
Conflict & violence

Afghanistan

Kabul accounted for 37 of Afghanistan's 97 stories about harm, carried by 33 outlets. Illness was named in 17 of its stories about harm, about 4 times usual. Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.

its stories →
Health

Greece

73 of its 180 stories (41%) were about people being harmed, usually 29%. Reports of people injured ran at about 4 times the usual rate (11 stories).

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Croatia

19 of its 39 stories (49%) were about people being harmed, usually 29%. Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.

its stories →
Health

Georgia

16 of its 23 stories (70%) were about people being harmed, usually 43%. Reports of people injured ran at about twice the usual rate (8 stories).

its stories →
Health

Jordan

44 of its 124 stories (35%) were about people being harmed, usually 27%. Reports of people injured ran at about three times the usual rate (6 stories).

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Syria

56 of its 81 stories (69%) were about people being harmed, usually 61%. Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.

its stories →

Also named far more than usual: landslides in South Korea (28 of its stories, about 7 times its usual); ebola in Uganda (12 of its stories, about 10 times its usual); illness in Afghanistan (17 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); wildfires in France (10 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); wildfires in Canada (35 of its stories, about three times its usual).

29 in 100 stories were about harm

usually 30; 29 the day before
33 in 10028 in 1007 Jul14 Jul21 Jul28 Jul5 Aug7 Jul: 31 in 1008 Jul: 30 in 1009 Jul: 30 in 10010 Jul: 30 in 10011 Jul: 32 in 10012 Jul: 33 in 10013 Jul: 31 in 10014 Jul: 30 in 10015 Jul: 29 in 10016 Jul: 29 in 10017 Jul: 30 in 10018 Jul: 32 in 10019 Jul: 33 in 10020 Jul: 30 in 10021 Jul: 30 in 10022 Jul: 30 in 10023 Jul: 29 in 10024 Jul: 29 in 10025 Jul: 31 in 10026 Jul: 33 in 10027 Jul: 29 in 10028 Jul: 29 in 10029 Jul: 28 in 10030 Jul: 28 in 10031 Jul: 29 in 1001 Aug: 31 in 1002 Aug: 32 in 1003 Aug: 29 in 1004 Aug: 29 in 1005 Aug: 29 in 100 · this day

Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 5 Aug. The big dot is this day; the shaded band is a normal day (the 30 days before it). Click a day to open it. Based on 31,133 stories about harm among 106,481 counted on 5 Aug.

Read the day's briefing

The news turned to Lebanon for the second day running. 29 in every 100 of the day's 106,481 news stories were about people being harmed, as usual. A year earlier, on 6 August 2019, 22 in every 100 stories were about people being harmed, against 29 today. Lebanon stood out: 81% of its news was about people being harmed, usually 45%.

Written by code from the day's numbers.

Where harm was most of the news all →

Lebanon81 in 100 of its 2,814 stories · usually 45 · mostly conflict & violence Afghanistan75 in 100 of its 130 stories · usually 69 · mostly conflict & violence Syria69 in 100 of its 81 stories · usually 61 · mostly conflict & violence Palestine60 in 100 of its 58 stories · usually 57 · mostly conflict & violence Zimbabwe52 in 100 of its 267 stories · usually 45 · mostly rights & justice

Countries with at least 50 stories that day.

Where people protested

Washington US247 stories about protests or strikes, of its 1368 Beirut Lebanon156 stories about protests or strikes, of its 2257 Portland US85 stories about protests or strikes, of its 137 Chicago US66 stories about protests or strikes, of its 311 Delhi India58 stories about protests or strikes, of its 261

Stories, not people.

The emotional weather

feelings in full →
Feelings Events Harm Warmth
Vietnam: feelings about like the world'sVenezuela: feelings about like the world'sVanuatu: feelings about like the world'sUzbekistan: feelings about like the world'sUruguay: too little coverage to readMicronesia: feelings about like the world'sU.S. Virgin Islands: feelings about like the world'sGuam: feelings about like the world'sPuerto Rico: feelings about like the world'sUnited States: feelings about like the world'sSouth Georgia & South Sandwich Islands: too little coverage to readFalkland Islands: too little coverage to readCayman Islands: feelings about like the world'sIsle of Man: too little coverage to readUnited Arab Emirates: feelings about like the world'sTurkmenistan: too little coverage to readTunisia: feelings about like the world'sTrinidad & Tobago: feelings about like the world'sTonga: feelings about like the world'sTogo: feelings about like the world'sTimor-Leste: too little coverage to readTaiwan: feelings about like the world'sSwitzerland: feelings about like the world'sSweden: feelings about like the world'sSuriname: feelings about like the world'sSouth Sudan: feelings about like the world'sSudan: feelings about like the world'sSri Lanka: feelings about like the world'sSpain: feelings about like the world'sSouth Korea: feelings about like the world'sSomaliland: too little coverage to readSolomon Islands: feelings about like the world'sSlovakia: feelings about like the world'sSlovenia: feelings about like the world'sSingapore: feelings about like the world'sSeychelles: feelings about like the world'sSerbia: too little coverage to readSenegal: feelings about like the world'sSaudi Arabia: feelings about like the world'sSão Tomé: too little coverage to readSamoa: feelings about like the world'sSt Vincent: feelings about like the world'sSt. Lucia: too little coverage to readRwanda: feelings about like the world'sRomania: feelings about like the world'sPortugal: feelings about like the world'sPoland: feelings about like the world'sPhilippines: feelings about like the world'sParaguay: feelings about like the world'sPapua New Guinea: feelings about like the world'sPanama: feelings about like the world'sPalau: too little coverage to readNorway: feelings about like the world'sNicaragua: feelings about like the world'sNiue: too little coverage to readNetherlands: feelings about like the world'sCuraçao: too little coverage to readNepal: feelings about like the world'sNamibia: feelings about like the world'sMorocco: feelings about like the world'sWestern Sahara: too little coverage to readMontenegro: feelings about like the world'sMoldova: feelings about like the world'sMexico: feelings about like the world'sMauritius: feelings about like the world'sMauritania: feelings about like the world'sMadagascar: feelings about like the world'sNorth Macedonia: feelings about like the world'sLuxembourg: feelings about like the world'sLesotho: feelings about like the world'sLatvia: feelings about like the world'sLaos: feelings about like the world'sKyrgyzstan: feelings about like the world'sKuwait: feelings about like the world'sKosovo: too little coverage to readKiribati: too little coverage to readKenya: feelings about like the world'sKazakhstan: feelings about like the world'sJamaica: feelings about like the world'sIndonesia: feelings about like the world'sIceland: feelings about like the world'sHungary: feelings about like the world'sHonduras: feelings about like the world'sGuyana: feelings about like the world'sGuatemala: feelings about like the world'sGrenada: too little coverage to readGreece: feelings about like the world'sGabon: too little coverage to readFrance: feelings about like the world'sSt Pierre & Miquelon: too little coverage to readFrench Polynesia: too little coverage to readNew Caledonia: too little coverage to readFrench Southern Territories: too little coverage to readÅland Islands: too little coverage to readFiji: feelings about like the world'sEthiopia: feelings about like the world'sEstonia: feelings about like the world'sEritrea: feelings about like the world'sEquatorial Guinea: too little coverage to readDominican Republic: feelings about like the world'sDominica: too little coverage to readDjibouti: too little coverage to readGreenland: feelings about like the world'sFaroe Islands: too little coverage to readCzech Republic: feelings about like the world'sN. Cyprus: too little coverage to readCyprus: feelings about like the world'sCuba: feelings about like the world'sCôte d'Ivoire: feelings about like the world'sCosta Rica: feelings about like the world'sDR Congo: feelings about like the world'sComoros: too little coverage to readColombia: feelings about like the world'sChina: feelings about like the world'sHong Kong: feelings about like the world'sChad: feelings about like the world'sCentral African Republic: feelings about like the world'sCape Verde: too little coverage to readCanada: feelings about like the world'sCambodia: feelings about like the world'sBurundi: too little coverage to readBulgaria: feelings about like the world'sBrunei: too little coverage to readBotswana: feelings about like the world'sBhutan: feelings about like the world'sBenin: feelings about like the world'sBelize: feelings about like the world'sBelgium: feelings about like the world'sBarbados: feelings about like the world'sBahrain: feelings about like the world'sAzerbaijan: feelings about like the world'sAustria: feelings about like the world'sHeard & McDonald Islands: too little coverage to readAntigua & Barbuda: too little coverage to readAngola: feelings about like the world'sAndorra: too little coverage to readAlgeria: feelings about like the world'sAlbania: feelings about like the world'sAksai Chin: feelings about like the world'sWestern Sahara (Moroccan-controlled): too little coverage to readWestern Sahara (Free Zone): too little coverage to readVatican City: too little coverage to readMarshall Islands: too little coverage to readNorthern Mariana Islands: feelings about like the world'sAmerican Samoa: too little coverage to readChagos Islands: too little coverage to readSt. Helena: too little coverage to readPitcairn: too little coverage to readAnguilla: too little coverage to readBermuda: feelings about like the world'sBritish Virgin Islands: too little coverage to readTurks & Caicos Islands: too little coverage to readMontserrat: too little coverage to readJersey: feelings about like the world'sGuernsey: feelings about like the world'sSan Marino: too little coverage to readSt Kitts & Nevis: feelings about like the world'sCook Islands: feelings about like the world'sAruba: too little coverage to readNauru: too little coverage to readMonaco: too little coverage to readMaldives: feelings about like the world'sLiechtenstein: too little coverage to readWallis & Futuna: too little coverage to readSt. Martin: too little coverage to readSt. Barthélemy: too little coverage to readMacao: feelings about like the world'sNorfolk Island: too little coverage to readSint Maarten: too little coverage to readChristmas Island: feelings about like the world'sGibraltar: too little coverage to readMayotte: too little coverage to readZimbabwe: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sZambia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sYemen: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sUK: coverage a little warmer than the world'sUkraine: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sUganda: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sTürkiye: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sThailand: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sTanzania: coverage a little warmer than the world'sTajikistan: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sSyria: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sEswatini: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sSouth Africa: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sSomalia: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sSierra Leone: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sRussia: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sQatar: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sPeru: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sPakistan: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sOman: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sNorth Korea: coverage a little angrier than the world'sNigeria: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sNiger: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sNew Zealand: coverage a little warmer than the world'sMozambique: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sMongolia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sMalta: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sMali: coverage a little angrier than the world'sMalaysia: coverage a little angrier than the world'sMalawi: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sLithuania: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sLibya: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sLiberia: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sLebanon: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sJordan: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sJapan: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sItaly: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sIsrael: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sPalestine: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sIreland: coverage a little warmer than the world'sIraq: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sIran: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sIndia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sHaiti: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sGuinea-Bissau: coverage a little angrier than the world'sGuinea: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sGhana: coverage a little warmer than the world'sGermany: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sGeorgia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sGambia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sFinland: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sEl Salvador: coverage a little angrier than the world'sEgypt: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sEcuador: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sDenmark: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sCroatia: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sCongo: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sChile: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sCameroon: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sMyanmar: coverage a little angrier than the world'sBurkina Faso: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sBrazil: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sBosnia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sBolivia: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sBelarus: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sBangladesh: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sBahamas: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sAustralia: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sArmenia: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sArgentina: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sAfghanistan: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sKashmir: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sPalestine: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sPalestine: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sKashmir: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sKashmir: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sUkraine: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sPalestine: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sKashmir: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world's
AngerGriefFearWarmth Like the world'sToo little news

Each country in the colour of the feeling its news carried most, against the world's news that day. Stronger colour: further above the world. Click a country.

Strongest feelings

● Croatia few stories about twice as angry as the world's · 19 stories about harm ● Syria about twice as angry as the world's · 56 stories about harm ● Lebanon about twice as grief-stricken as the world's · 2,292 stories about harm ● Brazil about twice as grief-stricken as the world's · 89 stories about harm ● Afghanistan about twice as angry as the world's · 97 stories about harm ● Kashmir about one and a half times as fearful as the world's · 104 stories about harm

The day in three measures

Parts of life 30 days →

Health57% 17,530 stories · less than usual (usually 60%) Rights & justice16% 4,884 stories · about as usual Disasters & accidents11% 3,255 stories · about as usual Conflict & violence7% 2,153 stories · about as usual Deaths & injuries, cause not given5% 1,462 stories · about as usual Shelter & services3% 950 stories · about as usual Food & livelihood1% 345 stories · about as usual Displacement1% 302 stories · about as usual

Of the stories about people being harmed, what part of life each was about. The mark is usual.

Harm reported 30 days →

Stories reporting people killed9,158 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people affected2,491 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people injured2,378 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about Lebanon and the US Stories reporting arrests1,954 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people displaced223 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about the US and Lebanon Stories reporting refugees173 at about the usual rate Stories reporting evacuations160 at about the usual rate Stories reporting abductions88 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about the US and Nigeria Stories reporting people falling ill32 at about half the usual rate · most about the US and the UK

Stories that report it, not people: we count what reporters wrote, not what happened.

How it felt 30 days →

harshwarm

The words in the day's stories were harsher than usual. Filled dot: today. Ring: usual.

● Angerabout as usual
● Warmthabout as usual
● Griefabout as usual
● Fearabout as usual

From the words reporters used across the whole day, never one story. Fear is the weakest of the four measures. How?

The weekly briefing · 19 Oct – 25 Oct

The week in human impact

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How to read these numbers →

These are counts of stories, not counts of suffering. Most of what happens to people is never reported at all.